President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered formal extradition proceedings with Portugal to repatriate former congressman Zaldy Co, suspected as a mastermind in a massive corruption scheme at the Department of Public Works and Highways. Co was last reported in Portugal, a country without an extradition treaty with the Philippines. Repatriation will be requested through Interpol.
At a press briefing on January 13, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said President Marcos has instructed the government to apply for an extradition treaty despite the absence of a formal agreement between the two countries. “The president has formally given instructions to apply for an extradition treaty even if there is no formal treaty between the two countries. But through Interpol, we will request the repatriation of Zaldy Co if he really is in Portugal,” Remulla stated. He noted this would be the first time the Philippines requests extradition from a non-treaty partner.
Zaldy Co, a resigned House lawmaker, is implicated as a mastermind in the scandal involving bogus flood control projects worth billions of pesos. He left the country before the scandal broke, with allegations that lawmakers and officials pocketed large sums from fake infrastructure developments.
Meanwhile, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon is scheduled to testify before the Sandiganbayan on January 20 regarding an alleged ghost flood control project in Oriental Mindoro that implicates Co. “Because I am the complainant in many of these cases, you will see me testify in these cases in the following weeks, in the following months, as part of our continuing effort to get those responsible to account,” Dizon said. It remains uncertain if the proceedings will be open to the public.
In a related development, the Bureau of Customs is investigating eight luxury cars linked to Co, seized in Taguig on January 8, valued at over P145 million. The vehicles show deficiencies in duties and taxes, with unclear importation records.
